140 comments:

Anonymous
said...

If their (Legislators) are so disenchanted with this new leadership why are they siting on the sidelines?

At what point will they realize this agency is in peril, and we have more JCO vacancies today than this agency has ever experienced in it's history and they want to add more JCO and they cannot fill the ones we have open now!!!!!!!

Teachers are also leaving by the dozens. We will have lost 7 by the end of this month. In addition to that, we are losing JCO's every day. The kicker is that we are getting more kids as we are losing so many staff. We have gained at least 40 youth in the past month. Every day is a wild adventure with so many staffing shortages and so many kids who feel they aren't going to be held accountablre for thier actions. The legislators and our Govenor apparently don't give a sh*t. It is pure madness andit isn't safe.

The scary part is that all this upheaval is going to result in the death of a staff or youth. The use of pepper spray is going to cause more problems that it will solve. And this "letter" to the violent kids. Well, that will just solve everything. I mean these kids are just going to stop all their bad behavior because we as an agency are going to send them a letter telling them to stop, and then we are going to tell mommy and daddy. I am sure that will be enough to stop their behavior. I only hope that some type to stability comes soon before it winds up getting a staff or youth killed. God bless all of you at TYC.

Can we ask the Governor for TYC to go back under conservatorship for gross mismanagement?

If this current agency does not fit the bill then what does it take?

Rampant overtime, no staff to work the shifts, youth being illegally held despite SB 103, no use of force policy, no treatment plan, no conservertors report when due, employees receiving jobs without interviewing (just selected from TDCJ), no real juvenile justice experience, who can add to this list, I am getting sick.

The letter is so amusing and Hurley's explanation is even more amusing. first he says it's one more way to communicate with the kids. If that is the case, it needs to be written on a level they can understand. Most of the kids are functioning at the 5th to 6th grade reading level and the letter is written at a 12th grade level. Many of the parents won't understand it either. Will it be sent in Spanish also? The Hurley says that the problem with aggression is not so bad as many are simple assaults. If it is not so bad a problem then why the need for the letter? And, the staff probably have already reminded the kids of the consequences, making the letter redundant.

The consequences are also probemmatic. Kids have to meet very specific criteria to be admitted to the Behavior Management Program or to the Aggression Management Program. Will the administration do away with the due process to make a point? The threat of prosecution may be an option in some locations but not in others. There are some counties that won't prosecute. I hope that the admin has worked something out with the counties if this is to be an option. Plus the counties are now overwhelmed with the kids that they can't send to TYC. Will this impact their willingness to prosecute kids already in TYC custody?

While the cost of postage is minimal in the grand scheme of things, why waste money on a meaningless intervention? The most important thing is that the admin does not seem to have a overall plan for the agency, for how to address staffing shortages, youth behavior and youth releases. SB103 is a farce as is this administration.

Nerve 10:15? I think the word lame fits much better. WOOOOO...we're going to tell your parents? I bet the kids are really scared now. Maybe they'll expell the kids from TYC next. You know, send them home to mommie and daddy for a real dose of discipline. I bet that will do the trick!

How about trying to shut down the Marlin Unit and transfer the youth to Mart I and they have no staff to handle or cover this. I was told they still have over 200 youth at Marlin and they are trying to push them all out prior to August 31, 2007.

How can they accomplish this while they are still working on the Mart I Unit and they barely have enough staff to cover Mart II. They have to utilize their Case Work staff on weekends to make minimum coverage, and the ratio is 20 to 1. What happen to 12 to 1?

What happened to providing youth with rehabilitation to help them address the problems they have, including problems with aggression? I have never found threats as in Bronco Billy's letter to be a very effective intervention. The youth need to be taught new ways to behave, to be motivated to do better not threatened and pepper sprayed into compliance. Where are the advocates?

No treatment program, no juvenile experience, terminating persons right and left, hiring persons without posting, changing policy to meet the hiring of a class B staffer, proposing a fix from Lamar University with no news of this reported anywhere, no blue ribbon panel report after spending tax dollars on all those guys, putting an educator in charge of treatment, killing the R@#@$#$$^%&^&&*program without a replacement, training how to pepper spray and cuff in a few hours, no answers to direct questions about what to do as far as using force, having tons of policies on the books that reference Resocialiation, and phases, extended shifts, having other than JCO staff hold the dorms, no behavior group training any more or any replacement, cancelling training of the treatment program more than once, resignations of key staff positions under questionable circumstances, tons of messages on grits that are unfavorable, the suspicion that we are being retaliated against or investigated under loose circumstances, unclear laws about what to do with 19yos being kept at TYC, no organization chart, no conservators report, no idea about whose job title is what as even the changers don't know, health problems of current staff, training being boosted to 300 hours and curriculums being written overnight, etc. etc. ....these are just off the top of my head. Let me think about this for a minute. Maybe Howard A. Hickman can write about some other changes that aren't listed. Give me an hour and I will have a complete list for Grits.

Did I mention powering and control tactics of the current leadership.

I sure am glad that they have transparency at CO by leaving the doors to the executive suite open. It is such a relief to be able to think about how good all this is working.

Everything I have written is sarcasm. These are all really big problems and issues at TYC.

I Think you're close to covering it all 11:23. Now the question is why is nothing being done about any of it? I wonder how far they'll let this agency deteriorate before someone steps in to fix it. WTF does it take??????

It gets better every day at TYC. The politicians have fixed TYC and the experts have been hired, what more can be done? If the current administration is not replaced I fear the National Guard will have to be called out by the Governor to staff TYC. Do not be surprised if an emergency executive order is given to hold TYC together. If TYC implodes Rick Perry will not have a political future in Texas or the United States so he will have to do something to turn TYC around. We could see the Federal Government step in and take over TYC management. I can see nothing but devastation and ruin in TYC’s future. It may well be too late to save the agency and that may have been the plan all along.

During my many years of working at TYC I never saw the intense interest in the TYC youth that suddenly sprang forth. I believe things always happen for a reason. No doubt there are those who are interested in the well being of TYC youth and staff, I think most had hidden agendas driven by self serving motives. We have already seen the attempt at sending the younger youth to contract care which would have been money in more than a few pockets. Once again I think one need only follow the money to a clearer understanding of this entire mess.

Early on I predicted the total destruction of TYC. My prediction was based on several facts. First political grandstanding on a subject most of the Legislators knew nothing about. Second the desire by key politicians who wanted to take TYC into contract care. Third was the administration placed in control of TYC who had little or no juvenile justice experience. Fourth was the mass firings that depressed the spirit of the remaining TYC staff. Fifth was the “Fire the Felons” move by Jay Kimbrough which has opened the door to legal action against TYC thus draining away valuable resources needed to keep TYC operational. Number six was the management by intimidation management model used by the new administration. A long ago tried and failed management system that caused big business millions of lost dollars thirty years ago. Finally number seven is the stop and start planning / implementation of new directives. Also I have a new reason to continue to predict the collapse of TYC. It is the appearance of dishonesty by the current TYC administration in their dealing with employees and the public.

You all should have taken notice when TDC became TDCJ; some of the powers that be wanted TYC rolled into the TDCJ. The TDCJ executives didn't want anything to do with the Juvenile justice system.

Now that all the facilties have been traded around, built, etc, (money, money, money), I think the Corrections portion of TYC (actual incarceration) will fall under TDCJ. Reduce TYC programs by hiring private venders, funding some local/ community programs and only incarcerating the "hard-cores" makes sense to some. time will tell. Stay safe out there!

from the inside looking in, i go ok, that might work. uniforms, pepper spray and blue ribbon panels etc. then i come home, think about it some, and start thinking and developing an outside look. are we not just turning into a little prison? our offenders are younger and possibly a little smaller in stature, but subject to having to stay in large institutions staffed with "guards" and pepper spray. these things work for control and confinement and contribute to an "innmate" (we should never use that term at TYC)doing his/her time safely, but are they in the best interest of the child? do they contribute to rehabilitation? do they support the reason for having a separate juvenile justice system? really, i do not think so. implode, explode, what difference does it make?

i thought that the blue ribbon panel was convened for 2 goals: what would be best practice for tyc and what would be the ideal set up for juvenile justice in the state of texas as a model for the rest of the nation. missouri has the best model based on my research. and the ann e casey foundation that says so is also on the blue ribbon panel. mickey neal said the problem is that we can't bring all those missouri staff down here to work in texas. you know, she was right. we can't. that principle also applies to the administration, we can't replace the current administrators with ones form missouri. they spent 20 years meeting with the public and developing support for their current and very different and separate system to be the model for juvenile justice in the system. i understand it is now the model for the nation. i suppose that the model we have is that our administrators have spent 20 days doing the same type of work here in texas. ok i exaggerate, some of them have probably been on the job for 2 or 3 months. seems to me that this is a pretty safe assumption about the total amount of juvenile experience they had before they got their high paying job without even applying. none of them have received any training on any of the programs or training that they are making harsh judgements about.

implode, explode, depression, recession, the whole thing is shameful and something that as a born texan i cannot defend!!!!

i wish there was something that we could do to develop interest in tyc's problems.

it does not seem to be youth centered. maybe we should just call it THE TEXAS COMMISSION.

The former TYC administration (Dwight's reign) had significant problems and the agency was regressing. Prior to that it was a very well respected agency.

The Gov. and the legislators got involved and cut the budget well past the point of it hurting the agency's ability to provide quality services for the youth.

Then there was a sex scandal, and it was mishandled by administrators.

However, the Gov and legislators have gone too far and are causing the agency to completely implode. A complete takeover wasn't necessary and has obviously caused more harm than good.

There are still many good caring staff struggling to hang on, for the sake of the youth. But those staff are exhausted by the overtime and demands placed on them, and by not getting any support or recognition for their efforts. Because of this, morale is at an all time low.

The new administration are not gaining the confidence of the staff, especially with their firing and hiring 'policies'.

How can we turn this around so that we once again serve the youth of this state and provide rehabilitation instead of just incarceration?

The problems with TYC did not start with this governor, with this legislature, nor with the administration of Dwight Harris. It started back in the 1990s with the get tough on juvenile crime movement that propelled GWB first into the governor's mansion and then into the White House.

Senator Whitmire and his cronies thought TYC was spending too much per kid and thought we could save money by making our institutions bigger and building big steel warehouses with open bays which would allow TYC to supervise more kids with fewer staff. Why not? TDCJ does it.

Steve Robinson had been brought back (by Ann Richards, no less) to run the agency, and he quickly jumped on the new bandwagon. (It is interesting to note that he is the only Ann Richards appointee who survived into the Bush administration). Chester Clay and Lydia Barnard and the super corrections bunch came into the ascendency. Brookings was hired as a get-tough guy by Lydia to run the security dept at San Saba.

Steve Robinson retired and Dwight was left to handle the mess he had created. Sadly, this very honorable man was not up to the task. (Perhaps because he was too honorable to realize how some of his subordinates could be so crooked.)

Meanwhile, TYC was struggling along with increasing populations and steadily decreasing budgets. Linda Reyes and Neal Nichols struggled to convince Dwight that he had to clean out the snakes. The legislature and the governor continued to try to outdo each other in cutting TYC's budget.

Now Dwight, Chester, and Lydia are gone - but so are Linda, Neal, Don Brantley, Corrine Alverez, Marie Murdoch, Pat Logterman and a host of good and talented people. And TYC is governed by an extremely poorly designed law, and a host of folks transferred over from TDCJ, who may be well-intentioned, but who are without the vital infrastructure they needed to run this agency. Why, people ask, did they get rid of all those talented people who had nothing to do with the scandle? It is simple - Sentator Whitmire demanded that they clean house. He pounded the table and practically screamed at Ed Owens, because he had not seen enough heads rolling. Its all on video - go watch on the Senate archives.

People need to wake up to the fact that the TYC scandal was nothing more than the vehicle for a big fight between Governor Goodhair and his political rivals in the legislature. Not to mention all the lazy journalists who view themselves as today's Woodward and Bernstein, even though they totally lack the patience, skill and integrity of the two who brought out Watergate.

To the good people who are left on the front lines, I can only say, God bless you, and please hang in there - do your best to hold limits and to set a positive example for these kids. Don't let your fatigue and frustration lead you to do something stupid. Don't expect anyone who has not been there with you to understand the sacrifices you make to do a good job under these circumstances. Just do it because it is the right thing to do. There is Someone way above all this who is watching! Old Salty

You are a wise man, Old Salty. I, too, miss Linda, Corinne, Don, Marie, Neil, Emily . . .and the one thing I know is this... those of us who worked for these fine and honorable people had the good fortune to be mentored by the best. We can either take what we learned from them and do our best to apply it in these difficult times, or we can buckle under and walk away with our tails between our legs. At some point, this administration is looking to stack the bodies to quell the legislators hunger . . . I for one intend to stand and be heard, to fight for what Linda et. al. started, and to maintain my commitment to the kids and the mission of rehabilitating kids and protecting the public.

I missed it but heard about it: today in Central Office, Jim Hurley took a shot of pepper spray to the face and eyes because as reported he said, "If I'm going to defend it, I may as well feel it's effect." AND then he actually did it - right in front of the press! TYC Tim Savoy took pics, and I can't wait to see this! lol!! Way to go Hurley! To me that's cool that he did it! He's now had his TYC cherry busted!! He's been initiated!

In reference to the letter to youth, I agree that it is a CYA approach. Also possibly a bizarre type of media hype.

It illustrates that there is no understanding of the juveniles in TYC or their parents. I believe that it is counterproductive to the youth in that the youth would tend to believe that this just shows how much of a joke the juvenile justice system has become. Parental control is not something that most TYC youth fear. The justice system is also something they know is not an immediate threat.

The real problem is that TYC is very limited in what immediate sanctions it can impose on assaultive youth. The threat of an extension of stay by some future review panel is too remote to have an effect on youth who have trouble conceiving of tomorrow much less six months from now. TYC is very limited in its capacity to place youth in BMP's and the AMP due to limited security space. TYC youth may be educationally limited but they are not stupid and will do what they can get away with.

The youth disciplinary problem is something that could easily have been foreseen in April when the future final provisions of SB 103 were clear to anyone who was familiar with the legislation.

I know that many of my fellow attorneys in TYC tried to get the Acting General Counsel and the new General Counsel to discuss those and other problems created by SB 103 but those requests were rudely ignored.

Many of the youth who receive the letter Mr. Humphries is sending, won't even be able to read it...sounds like an effective deterrent to me...I mean it is a brilliant idea to send adjudicated delinquents, the vast majority of whom have received threat (at home)after threat (at school) after threat (at alternative school)after threat (on their first non adjudicated referral to probation) after threat (after their first juvenile probation adjudication) after threat (after their first ignored probation violation) after threat (after their first modification to probation for probation violation) after threat (that if they don't stop hisbehaving they will be sent to TYC) after threat (at their TYC orientation) after threat (from evaluators at MOAU) after threat (from JCO staff) after threat (from their caseworker) after threat (from the security unit JCO staff) after threat (from their program administrator) after threat (from psychology staff) after threat (from the treatment team) after threat (from their parents - if they care) and expect them to pay attention now, after receiving a letter from someone they have never met nor care to know?

If everyone on Grits and their friends would begin a letter writing campaign to their Representatives, who knows maybe they will listen. If you have time to Blog you have time to write a letter.

This would be the most effective way to approach these issues I have been reading on this blog. Please do not rant and rave but state clearly what most of you have been stating on this blog, but leave out the personal attacks.

Make sure you give examples if your aware of them and if not, find some off this blog, most of these seem to be accurate.

Do not use State resources to do this but rather at your residence.

Maybe Mr. Hickman could be of some service in regards to what to state who who to state it too. This would be a constructive way to let your Representative know how you feel.

Also, if your not registered to vote in your County please do so, this carries clout when they pull up your name (if you use it) and see that you are a registered voter.

What TYC employee would be willing to take the consequence of making a stand even on their own time? Guffaw!!!

BTW, I'm not impressed with Hurley getting sprayed. If you want to be certified to use the stuff it's part of the training. Doesn't hurt but makes a lot of snot and tears.

Give me a break with the praise for Reyes, Sanders, Logterman, Barnard, and Brantley. Personally I would never use the term "honorable" to describe any of these folks.

News today? An emergency policy and release review panel looking at all those kids waiting to leave TYC. A er panel of er uh three! And the new emergency policy says only da Pope or designee can sign the order to send them back to juvenile court.

And what is this proposal from Lamar University that only a few have seen? Is there an unpublished RFP out there somewhere? Is it an unsolicited proposal?

Come on Pope et al. Let us know who is staying and who is going, is Victory Field going to exist beyond February, are you going to leave Novy in a position to keep screwing with people? So many questions, so little time...

At some point, someone has to be accountable for the damage to the public that is resulting from the crimes that recently released TYC youth are committing. The public would be shocked to learn the large number of youth who have escaped, absconded, failed to report, or are now in jail for new crimes with new victims. We have replaced one flawed system with no system at all. The architects of this fiasco are John Whitmire and his friends. I hope the voters remember them when the go for re-election.

I agree with Anon 7:26pm, maybe if we all wrote letters we could bring some attention to our plight. It would be better than doing nothing, and yes you can write anonymously but if you place your name your representative will not give it out if you ask him/her not to.

We were told yesterday that when a kid reaches his (MLOS) he WAS going to be released. The only way he wouldn't be was if he had assaulted someone and then only after the committee from Austin decided to extend his stay. Now what motivation do the kids have to try to "work the program" (if there is one to begin with)? What is their motivation to actually work in school after they get their ged? What is their motivation to stay out of security or to not curse you each and every day? After all, it was taking them probably 5 months to work the program the right way if they were lucky. Now, it might be only 9 if they do nothing but what they want to do and that usually isn't good. I wonder how far the TABE scores will go down and who CO is going to blame when they don't achieve when academics mean nothing and they are going home anyway without working or holding them accountable in any way. We are already experiencing this with the ones who are turning 19 soon. This is turning into a circus and someone is going to get hurt. We need help. Pray for us.

LETTER WRITING - You can write a letter anonymously. I agree it is important to start writing legislators. And don't write Whitmire, Madden, or Turner - they aren't going to care what TYC employees say. Write to some of the others.

I've written Kirk Watson, Mark Strama, and Patrick Rose - all are in Austin.

It is time to stop relying on the blog and venting and time to start trying something. It may not work - but we can't know if we don't try.

Get your family and friends to write, too.

Anything is worth a shot at this time. It is time for them to step up and give us real leaders.

First off, I agree, I am glad Logterman is gone. I got tired of her trying to tell us how to deal with kids she never has dealt with, tell us who we should and should not release even though it did not matter that you spent that last year working with the youth, you knew nothing according to her. Murdoch, she was great. She worked her way up the latter. She was from the treaches. She told you how it was straight up. I respect her a heck of alot more than the others. Marie, you will be missed!!

Well, I think this is an appropriate place to put this articlehttp://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_8-18_riad.45457ecc.html

I know everybody is sick of hearing about McFadden Ranch, but we all said that some pretty bad things were happening there, turns out we not only have criminal's on the payroll...but they are drug dealers!! YEP! A TYC officer ( still on McFadden's payroll) was arrested in this raid! Looks like we were telling the truth and SOMEBODY did listen!

YEE HAW! Its about damn time McFadden Ranch got what was coming! That place is so full of crooked people! They always remove or intimidate the ones who come close to finding all of their "skeletons" You know that if they have had a drug dealer working there for many years that they have more! Good Job to those people who wouldn't let them shut you up!

Can I please ask what more it will take to remove Lisa Cooke from her position as Superintendent of McFadden Ranch??? This woman has no business taking care of ANY youth, let alone 48 of them. In her latest "exploitation" of TYC youth..Cooke authorized for the transportation of 2 TYC youth to be removed from the facility and transported in an employees private vehicle to the employees home and made to work on the womans plumbing!!!!!! MY GOD! What is next??? Is she going to "donate" some youth to work as personal servants to her friends and family?? This has to be stopped! Cooke herself picked up the youth from the employees home ( in her personal vehicle) and bought them pizza! This is ridiculous!!!!! SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING because that stupid hotline doesn't work at all anymore!HELP US!

Thats pretty bad, almost modern day slavery! They removed our sup for mail violation's and they are leaving somebody like this in her position.It seem's like policy doesn't matter at McFadden or civil rights for that matter. I hope those kids get good lawyers.

Anon 10:23 am, omg, they got rid of the sup who was accused of using Fed ex? How much did she use? I can not believe that, and look at what is happening at McFadden. Where is the justice on this one? I think the press ought to look into this.

I don't know where to go from here, so I am coming to people who know to ask for advice. A youth came forward today and told staff that he was ordered to take a bath in bleach! Yes..I said BLEACH! It would seem that he had a rash from being off grounds and our superintendent didn't want it to be known that he had been off campus and came into contact with poison ivy....so she ORDERED him to take a bath in bleach and pour rubbing alcohol on his genitals..The hotline was called and the superintendent knew about the call less then 10 minutes later! Is this some kind of conspiracy to cover - up or what?? I am not sure what to do but something MUST be done before Lisa Cooke kills a youth in TYC care..yes, you read right...McFadden Ranch, yet again has a crisis on its hands, How can you bury this one Lisa?

Oh somebody took us seriously this morning.It has been reported to a law enforcement agency and it will be dealt with by them.I don't know what you mean by "theatrical" because as sad as it is, it is the truth. Personal attacks? No. Cooke is responsible for this and she should have to face the consequences. She believes the policy and the law, for that matter don't apply to her. We will see how she feels now that she is facing child exploitation charges,child abuse and endangerment charges.I am sure that the people that reported crimes at West Texas had to deal with same sort of people such as you 9:41.But the truth will be told and when it is, the responsible parties should be guests of TDCJ.

Lets see here, we have an incarcerated drug dealer, a superintendent exploiting youth and pouring bleach on them, and they are still on TYC payroll? Anybody see something wrong with this picture? By all means, lets fire those of us that used postage the wrong way! My god people...is there any justice?

There you go 10:29 and prove my point! I mean overly dramatic diatribes such as your last and many previous posts.

You are quick to condemn anyone who doesn't jump or react to your point ov view. You know nothing about me or my history with TYC because if you did you wouldn't have accused me of being like the Lydia Banard's, Chester Clays, or Dwight Harris's.

My point is stick with the facts, you destroy your own credibility when you sound like a distraught raving lunatic! "HELP, HELP, I BEING OPPRESSED!!!"

Stick with the facts... if what half of what is written is to be believed then you have cause to be concerned and upset and the issues should be dealt with by the appropriate authorities. So maybe it is not what you are telling people but how you are telling it that is the problem!

Instead many of you wind up sounding like immature disingenous backbiting TYC personel that cry wolf when there is no danger or threat but are instead just trying to manipulate and use the system (like a student who files many false complaints in retaliation against a staff).

Life is not fair and calling names and throwing tantrums are not going to improve your situation.

10:57, it sounds personal with you. I for one, as a TYC employee applaud those who come forward.

To 10:29, Good luck and god will bless you for protecting the youth in your care. Criminals or not, nobody deserves to have bleach thrown on them, that is a toxic chemical!Keep up the good work, we need more like you!

Getting me to agree with 10:57 would usually be difficult, but he/she makes a good point... stick with the facts. For example: 10:34 says "..pouring bleach on them.." and then 12:37 says "..bleach thrown on them." The original post (11:10) says "ORDERED him to take a bath in bleach." As a child, I remember taking baths with a small amount of bleach for treatment of poison ivy (which is mentioned in the posts, as is a rash). This is an old and may be (or may not be) a useful treatment. And, of course, no medical treatment can be legally ordered by non-medical staff (and, if it is by medical staff, can still be refused by the student). Local law enforcement, CPS, the OIG and even the Ombudsman, do not have time to sort out such conflicting reports in the absence of obvious abuse (inflamed skin for example). Consider: if the local deputy has the same memories as I do of homegrown remedies, the immediate response might be: poor kid, got himself into some poison ivy when he was peeing in the bushes... good thing the supt knew how to take care of it. Review what facts we have assuming the posts are accurate): student went to staff's house in private vehicle, did some work, came back with rash, bathed in bleach water, poured rubbing alcohol onto crotch. Other than coming back with the rash, none of the actions meets TYC policies and some may also be illegal (exploitation has specific definition) as well as violating TYC policy. Also note that McFadden employs people from the community. Using WTSS as an example, the legislature's and TYC's response to the actions of one or two people is to plan on closing the place. With that in mind, local authorities may be more inclined towards the above hypothetical deputy, especially if nobody seems to be able to provide the facts. Final consideration regarding adding to the facts. If this goes to the newspapers, it makes a major difference when "Employee reports Superintendent abuses children" becomes "Disgruntled Employee Makes Complaints." Look at how many good TYC staff are gone due to unsupported claims by TDCJr's Central Office.

I am speaking as someone who has come forward and has been in contact with the media.

I am not saying I believe or disbelieve the claims of abuse at McFadden (never been there.) All I am trying to say is that when you deviate from factual accounts and begin to criticize and vilify those who you are accusing you are undermining your "argument/case" overall by personalizing the issue.

Lisa Cooke may be the Spawn of Satan for all I know but that is neither a criminal offense nor a violation of GAP or PRS.

Personal attacks are a sign of weakness and desperation. Do your due diligence and report the facts.

People read this blog and how you present information on this sight reflects on TYC personnel as a whole.

Personally, I would like people to believe that TYC employee's are mature, intelligent, caring, reasonable, level-headed professionals who are legitimately concerned about the future of TYC and the youth in their care.

So in short, I believe the way some former employees and current employees represent the agency makes us look like childish and incompetent hacks more worried about our personal vendettas than the welfare of the youth in our custody. And yes, this bothers me...

Stick with facts that can be substantiated with evidence and leave the "rumors" "slander" and "Libel" out of it.

Yes everyone of you. If you are in the know and haven't called in on it (the hotline or the board that governs LCDC's) you are just as guilty. You guys have a butt load of crap that can be called in. Jobs come and go, but when you lose your license to counsel, your SOL.

Using bleach as a medicinal remedy is not in the medical book for procedures, allowing youth to go to an employees house (or volunteers for that matter) is not allowed nor is allowing them to work on an employees personal property (or a volunteers for that matter. Those are in GAP and PRS. Also, it is against the laws and guidelines of those who hold LCDC's to use clients in a manner of employment.

2:09, I am not quite sure where it is that you found no policy violated, lets look at the facts here, A student is taken off campus to work on an employees home ( This violates not on overfamiliarization policy but also puts into question why are TYC youth being "used" as workers?)I believe this violated several of the youths rights. They youth came into contact with some poison ivy, and instead of getting the youth appropriate medical care, we use "old fashioned" remedies. This is unacceptable. Bleach is a toxic substance. If I were this kids parents I would scream like hell to have such an incompetent person removed from my childs care! So lets see here, Medical neglect,( not getting the youth proper treatment) Child abuse ( making him bathe with a toxic substance)The youth said his arms were saturated in bleach ( soaked) and he smelled of it so strongly that it became difficult for him to breathe.Hmmm? No policy violations? How about some LAWS instead!!! Last time i looked, Child abuse was against the law.

11:21, How about letting youth spend the weekend with a male volunteer and not even checking in? That has happened at McFadden too.It would seem that you TYC facility people have one set of policies and McFadden makes its own rules as it goes along, and whenever somebody disagree's, well then they gang up on that person until they are either fired or the atmosphere becaomes so unbearable that they just quit.So lets add up the McFadden body count..2 JCO V's have quit because they couldn't stand it there. They have fired 2 people who stood up for right, they were forced to fire their buddy who molested more kids then we probably knew about. Another JCO staff ( still on the payroll was arrested by the feds over the weekend on drug charges, guess we know who brought that "crack pipe" onto facility grounds now) They will lose some good people pretty damn soon too..people are getting sick of their twisted ways of rehabilitating the students.

Thanks 11:21, but you are really messing up all of their plans of covering this up and making it seem innocent. Quoting laws and policy, They are from McFadden,Laws and policy don't apply to them...just the rest of us and if they get caught violating any law or policy, they always go back to the old standard's attacking other's who call them out on their behavior or my favorite " I didn't know"

West Texas has nothing on McFadden..only 2 people involved there. MANY at Mcfadden.

10:13 Thanks for the courtesy; when I read your response, I had to reread mine just to make sure I had said what I intended! Your apology keeps this from becoming a pissing contest... something none of us need. The facts are now out... apparently Bleach not bleach water, 2nd degree burns not just the rash and the spawn of satan (I like that one) is off to Austin and I suspect not for the entertainment. As we saw at WTSS and now at McFadden, we cannot afford to give either abusers or incompentents any wiggle room, like emotional complaints or we, the kids and the whole damn state lose(signed 2:09)

Damn...looks like the sh*t is going down at McFadden Ranch. They say "the squeaky wheel gets the grease," so I guess all the squeaking at McFadden Ranch finally brought in some justice...GO GET EM' BOYS!!! Take the trash out!!!

I agree 100 percent 5:23. I think some of us do react emotionally because lets face it, most of us are parents ourselves and I couldn't imagine what I would do if something happened to a child of mine like that. I always put myself in the other person's position and think what would I want someone to do for my child, and criminals or not, they are still human beings.Come on now, You wouldn't put bleach on your colored clothes because it would damage it, right? But its okay to put this chemical on a child? I don't think so!

What's real sad here about McFadden is that the 'facts' are stretched and twisted. The person(s) writing this kind of stuff has need for psychatric help - and quickly. I cant believe they are working with kids.

I just hope that kid is okay. Keep us updated, please.I have a strong feeling this will be the "North Texas" story that we will all be hearing about and reading in the DMN.It sounds like a real mess there, and maybe they should shut that place down and leave some good facility open.

Hey, I have been having a little problem with my plumbing too! Can i get a few TYC youth over to my house to do some work? I also would like my lawn mowed, and maybe if they are good workers, They can stick around after... I am hosting a dinner party and I could use them as servants?

Sorry for the sarcasm, Just wanting to show an average day at Mcfadden.

I am not sure what the true story is on the youth at McFadden, but as all employees know, we have medical protocols to follow. We do not act in any manner or form except what we are informed of by the medical personnel from UTMB and the protocol written in each halfway house. If Lisa Cooke did not follow this or a nurse's orders, she will have to answer for that herself. We all have our home remedies we grew up with, however, that is not for us to use or choose to use. The truth shall be determined and it is my sincere hope that the youth is okay, it is bad enough having poison ivy without having a burn, I can not imagine having both.

If all of these allegations prove true at McFadden and your superintendent is NOT removed ( along with any other staff that played a part in this) then I would get on the phone with the governors office and ask why! If true, these are not only policy violations but also crimes. Somebody should have to be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows.

Was bleach used to "cure" the poison ivy/oak? Yes.Did the youth have severe burns? No.Are there other allegations going on? Yes.Did the youth rights person show up at McFadden? Yes.Is there an investigation going on now by the Atty General? Yes.

If there is nothing found, then there is no justice, there are no youth rights, and there is no "new and improved TYC".

Hold up just a minute 5:10. You made mostly very good points in your comment; however, it sounds as if you downplayed the situation by stating the burns were not severe. Don't you think a chemical burn inflicted upon a child should still be considered abusive, even if it is not classified as a "severe" burn? Pain starts way before the skin is charred. Even a sunburn can hurt like hell.

Excellent point 8:17! Child abuse occurs when a child is harmed in ANY way by a deliberate or negligent act. There is no such thing as being "kind of" abused, just as you can't be a little pregnant. Its pretty cut and dry. Is bleach an approved procedure at TYC. NO. Just as putting bread and milk on a staff infection isn't either....but that didn't stop McFadden's administration from using that "homegrown" remedy a few months back. God forbid a kid gets a headache out there, remember back in old times they used to drill a hole in the head of the headache sufferer.If they are not stopped now, when will it end? I will tell you when...when a youth in McFadden's incompetent care dies. Thats when. Don't say we didn't warn the state of Texas then. We have done everything short of placing the responsible parties under citizens arrest.

I really hope somebody does something about McFadden soon. We are in danger of being shut down because we had 3 more people resign this week. We are so understaffed now, and with all the abuse allegations, I am looking for another job.

Were the burns severe? Yes, depending on who you talk to (the ones who don't cover up). No, depending on who you talk to (the ones who believe administration).

Same goes for the plumbing incident--you hear a different story from whoever you talk to. One version is the "good samaritain" and the other is "you can't believe what you're hearing." Was it really worth saving a buck? Gettin' the hook up? Something for nothing?

Bottom line: Medical protocal was not followed. TYC policy was not followed. Youth rights were obstructed. Now let's see what the investigators do. Let's also see if the staff who played a part in all of this, step up to the plate with their integrity and own up to this. Didn't they "stand for what is right" in house group?

This interminable saga throughout the agency needs to come to a head. Come on Pope, get on the bus and make a few stops!

I hope you are right and those that were involved "step up" but if history repeats itself, they will instead band together to go after the reporting party to this incident. What needs to happen in this situation is every staff member with any integrity or character at all, needs to come forward with what they know and let the chips fall where they may.We are not allowed to use these kids, put them in harms way or do anything to compromise their safety...period.

Despite some of their grandstanding about being upstanding role models and good samaritains, the majority of them won't. Instead, they say "[we're] haters". Since when "doing the right thing" makes one a hater? Reporting these incidents was the ethical and moral thing to do, no question about it. That's within policy, what they did wasn't.

I would NEVER consider one of Mcfadden's administration or any of the people who do their "dirty work" role models of ANY kind to ANY youth. TYC should distance themselves from these people as quickly as they can, before even more damage ( if thats possible) can be done to TYC.

I'd not be surprised at all to find out that there has been a tad bit of misinformation distributed about McFadden by one or two disgruntled employees or former employees. I've seen it happen before. Unfortunately, when people make false claims, a lot of energy is spent running down rabbit holes. The result is that real abuses are sometimes missed because of this plethora of false claims. It happens all the time in the investigations business. Now we have law enforcement officers employed by TYC, people who make false claims will be faced with possible prosecution. That is one of the few good things that came out of the abortion called SB103.

Question...Were youth removed from McFadden to work on an employees fathers home?Answer: yesthis constitutes EXPLOITATION

question....Was the youth who was removed from the facility exposed to a toxin of some sort that gave him a rash? Was bleach used on the youths body to "kill" the toxin?

answer: yesThis constitutes MEDICAL NEGLECT and CHILD ABUSE

So bring the threats on!!!! False claims??? YOU WISHIf anybody will be facing any kind of "criminal charges" it will be those of you involved with this mess! So keep up the witch hunt...They have logs stating where the kids were going to,they have pictures of the burn's on the youths arm. They have statements from SEVERAL different staff members implicating the superintendent's knowledge of such abuse. You have two choices now..face up to what you did to that kid or run like hell. Cowards at McFadden will try their hardest to get out of this one, but this is the end of the line for a few of them.

I also have to say that just because people are in state custody doesn't mean that anybody is allowed to violate their civil rights either. When that youth asked to call his family and his attorney and he was denied those calls ( to keep him quiet, till the rash could be cleared up) and when he not only asked, but BEGGED for medical care and that too was denied...who in the hell has the right to say no???? I will tell you who..sick minded people on power trips who enjoy having "control" over these kids because thats the only way they get respect from anybody. Thats who. Come on! Bring it on you cowards, we know who you are! Forgot, you are all so "brave" on here but when it comes time to walk the walk...ain't nobdoy saying nothing.

One or two "disgruntled" employees?? You have more than a couple, I can think of 10 just in the past few months, in fact the only ones that are not disgruntled are the ones you have lying to the investigators, and they are doing that because they are being threatened with their jobs.

Here is what really happened at McFadden. We are all about helping the community but we believe charity begins at home. When one of our employees came to us and said she could not afford expensive plumbing repairs, we gathered the youth together and asked if any knew about plumbing, when one youth stepped up, he quickly became a very good plumber and we were happy. It didn't cost us anything but a pizza. Which we paraded around in front of 47 other hungry youth to show them what they could have had if they had stepped up. If it wasn't for that rash, we would have sent more kids to more places...we even came up with a way we could create our own company out of it. Then some employees who saw this as "exploitation" came forward and wouldn't accept that these kids were ours to do what we want to with. The nerve! If he had kept quiet, his lawn would have always been mowed and his car cleaned out weekly. Some people!

Now we are being investigated by all kinds of places. They didn't like our home remedy of pouring bleach on an open wound. Can you imagine? They call this.."abuse" we didn't beat the kid for crying out loud! We didn't want to waste the states money on silly things like ointments or antibiotics when we have such simple stuff just laying around. It was all just innocent, it is always just innocent...thats why we need to sit behind closed doors for hours to get our stories straight.

Its always the same story, they do something bad and instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they look to blame it on somebody else. Its always a "disgruntled employee or former employee" They need to stop trying to attack other people for mistakes that they make. I don't believe anybody "made" them pour bleach on a kids arm or made a kid work on an employee's plumbing. But now the world can see our frustration.

They are mad because it got reported. See, they are threatening criminal prosecution for doing the right thing. These administrators need to be removed ASAP.

There are a lot of "ifs" here. If these things happened as alleged, and if they got properly reported, there will be investigations. Someone said there are investigators crawling all over the place. Good. I hope that is true. That was not the case in WTSS. If the people who are posting here from McFadden are telling the truth, they should be willing to give sworn statements to law enforcement investigators. But here's the rub - making a false sworn statement to a law enforcement officer is a felony. There is no penalty for making a false statement on Grits. Anyone can post here anonymously, just as I am. If you are telling the truth, make your statements to the cops. If you are telling the truth and can back it up, you will be safe, and some other folks will be going to jail. Count on it.

I will not only give sworn testimony to the crimes at McFadden, I will also swear it on a stack of bibles, take a polygraph test,and put it on everything I hold dear....that is how sure I am of the crimes at McFadden. Bring it! I am ready...but wait, lets ask the same of the administration!

I just don't understand your comments 5:18, and they sound very much like the earlier comments trying to intimidate those who came forward with these allegations. Maybe you should become more informed about law before you go spouting off your threats. Reporting a crime that you suspect has occured is NOT a crime. Nobody who came forward with allegations at McFadden is in danger of being prosecuted for anything. They will probably be given a big pat on the back from the state after they expose all of the corruption at McFadden. Threats are all you have, while we have the LAW on our side. ABUSE, NEGLECT and EXPLOITATION are what the indictments will read. So don't be suprised if one day during "group" you get a few visitors.Then you can feel the pain you have put those kids through when its YOU on the other side of those bars!

Here is my advice to McFadden administration. Obviously, you have some very serious problems going on there, and if memory serves me right, your superintendent just returned after being suspended for more than a month. This should in itself be a big red flag to any investigator. She should have followed the rules by the book after that warning. If they are that stupid to break policy ( along with what looks to be some laws) Don't expect to keep getting a smack on the hand. You keep playing with fire, you will get burned.

Its always somebody elses fault that McFadden Ranch is under investigation...it reminds me of those old scooby doo cartoons, where at the end they pull off the mask and the criminal says "I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for you kids" it seems to fit in this situation.

Oh, and to those who are concerned..I gave my sworn statement today. They thanked me. No mention of any felony arrests, well...i really shouldn't say that. I am quite sure a few people will be arrested. I just won't be one of them. No kid came to my house to do work!

The big question here is what is this teaching the youth in McFadden's care? Its teaching them "do as I say, not as I do" McFadden administration is using several "thinking errors" Downplaying being the major one. They are also in their "victim stance" where it wasn't their fault, and they feel the need to blame others for their mistakes. Bottom line...Cooke and crew were given another chance. They again proved to staff/youth and hell, the state of Texas that they are unworthy of the responsibility of reforming the incarcerated youth in their care.

Word on the street is that McFadden will no longer exist!!! With all the drama ALWAYS there and the fact that after Sept 1, 2007 they will not have enough staff to keep the facility open. Along with criminal charges likely being filed against several staff members, it looks like WTSS had nothing on this place.

Thats good news about McFadden closing if its that bad.I also heard about the criminal charges that should be handed down soon. I hope that all TYC facility's learn from these examples of what not to do to youth in your care. This is about the kids.

My question to all the McFadden people who have been raising all these issues here is, why have you not called the hotline? You have a responsibility under the law to report abuse and neglect. Why has this not been done? If you are afraid of retaliation, you can call anonymously. The people answering the phones are law enforcement officers. Until recently, they were not even TYC employees, but rather officers from AGO, TR and TDCJ-IG. The new head of the call center is a recently retired TR. Calling people out anonymously on a blog is not the same thing as reporting. With one notable exception, y'all have not been reporting.

Scott, I suggest you call the call center yourself, inform them of all the allegations that have been made on this blog about McFadden, and ask them how many have been reported. Let us know what you find out. Thanks.

3:44, You need to look back a few posts. The hotline HAS been called. Investigators from the OIG and AG's office and numerous youth advocates from all over the state have interviewed both youth and staff at Mcfadden.It has become so hostile there that 3 staff ( JCO) have quit this week alone. McFadden administration have made the lives miserable of those who reported this crime. Why these people continue to be allowed to run a facility is beyond me.

THIS IS ABOUT REPORTING WRONG DOING, not taking a shot at whoever. Blogging this stuff can be done without all the rhetoric.

Who cares if so/n/so's zit faced, crackhead, patsy, weak person. It's not about that...it's about reporting what was done. What matters is that someone administered the bleach on a kid. Not that they are a no-brain, giant ox. The point is that bleach was used. Period end of sentence. Write your blog like your writing a 225--ONLY FACTS and not personal opinions! You know that!

Somebody is upset at McFadden. I looked back at all the posts in this blog and haven't found one reference to being a "pansy" or a "zit-faced crackhead".So obviously this McFadden administrator is upset with our discussion regarding the incidents at McFadden. How about this? We can take this off this blog and discuss it like mature adults( in private) and you can explain to me why you continue to support an administration that has not only broken policy numerous times but now has broken some laws as well. Maybe you can tell me if you will be so supportive after McFadden is shut down and you no longer have a job.For all of you NOT involved in this mess, I urge you to stay out of it so that you are not implicated as an accomplice to a crime. Because TYC jobs can come and go, We are talking about doing hard JAIL time here people....is anybody you work with worth that? My answer is a definite NO!

I for one, as a McFadden Employee ( yes, a CURRENT one) am planning on attending tomorrows conference in Austin to discuss what is going on at this facility. Something needs to be done before something even worse then this latest incident happens and its time for all of us to step up and do the right thing. Those kids are depending on you! This isn't just a paycheck you know!

It's not someone 'upset at McFadden'. I could care less if anyone there is or gets upset. I don't care if someone has zits that need to be popped (yes, it was on a string), or whatever. As a reader and someone with a invested interest in McFadden, and TYC as a whole, I find it very irritating and just plain nonsense to read through all the name calling. Who cares about the other crap. Just write the facts. That is not too much to ask for. That is what matters when it all comes down on the line. Not who's this or that. The FACTS!!!!

It is real sad to see a truly goodwill gesture (and yes, I mean goodwill) turn into such a circus. The kids were NOT forced to do any work. They did it on their own. It IS sad that one of them got poison ivy, and that medical attention was not done immediately. Arent we about rehabilitation??? This was an excercise in trying to help one another in unfortunate circumstances.

10:43, You don't have the right to offer these youth in custody to ANYBODY! Goodwill??? You have to be kidding with this right? You tried to use these kids to do work for NO money!! Thats exploitation!!!!!!

Its always an excuse with you McFadden administrators. You break policy and laws and try to justify it being "goodwill" Sell it to somebody else, we ain't buying it here. What was WTSS's excuse? Those boys just need some "love"???Stop making your CRIMES seem innocent and face up to what you did for once! You took a youth off campus in a private vehicle to an employees house! You broke two policies in that act alone! Then you had the youth ( in TYC custody) work on the employees property ( EXPLOITATION...using an individual in custody for personal gain)Then he gets some injury and instead of proper treatment you pour household chemicals on the kid until his skin was burning! ( Medical Neglect and Child Abuse) You can NOT make this better by making it seem like it was all innocent!

DO THE RIGHT THING FOR A CHANGE AND STOP TRYING TO BLAME OTHERS OF YOUR INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP!

Oh, and these kids who "wanted" to work on the employees house,how did they get there again? Yeah, the employee drove them in her CAR! Community Service...my ass!!

I am sure it was all the kids idea, huh? They "wanted" to go work on some woman's plumbing more then anything I am sure.

You all can stop now....you are making yourselves look even dumber that you really are and making TYC even more of a joke. Take responsibility for your actions! IT WAS WRONG and YOU HANDLED IT TERRIBLY and SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE POSITIONS YOU HOLD AND SERVE TIME IN JAIL! Maybe you might get a "job" working at the prison warden's house, fixing his plumbing!

To those of you trying to get you point across to these McFadden supporters, don't waste your time. They will always have their twisted view of their actions. They believe whats wrong is right and whats right is wrong. These are the people in charge of rehabilitating the youth of Texas...its sad isn't it?

If they were really in their positions to help these kids that would be something different. But they are not. They are there to see what these kids can do for them, which needs to be stopped ASAP. The damage that has been done to these young minds and bodies at the hands of McFadden administration is horrific. Those kids are in my prayers nightly that someone will come in and remove them from their care.

What if that was an animal that they poured bleach on instead of a kid? All hell would break loose!

They made fun of that boy while he was in pain....doesn't anybody have any compassion anymore?

We, who chose this field to help kids should be ashamed that we work for TYC if this is how they deal with people like this.

I just have to give my fellow TYC employee Carlos Wilson his due respect on this blog today. Mr. Wilson is what we all hope to be someday, somebody with integrity and character and MORALS, something you don't find at McFadden Ranch. Mr. Wilson resigned under the pressure from Administration after he reported the crimes that occured there. He didn't just stop there...he is in Austin today speaking with Pope, Owens and our state senators telling them about the horrific abuse of our TYC youth at McFadden. We are proud of you Wilson!!!!

WOOOO HOOO!!!! WILSON!!!! We are so proud of you!!! Owens and Pope are protecting you now and THEY want you in a leadership position at McFadden!!! THEY DON"T ACCEPT YOUR RESIGNATION!!!! You did so good!!!! We watched the whole thing...its over now Cooke, clean out your office and take your sick crew and VACATE WILSON's Office!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2:59 & 3:24,According to "your friends" at the ranch, you know who I am. You've got my number, why haven't you called?

Yes, I have reported what needed to be reported--for years. Your reporting happened at an oportune time.

Putting someone else in charge that has no CD experience has already proven a failure. Why do it again? It won't happen. On the other hand, why would he want to work at that place, the politics and with staff that is there? They'll hand it to either some TDCJ cronnie, Koerner or D.

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